Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Revelations in Thread, Part Two

President's Day, 6:30 am

Spring has arrived in Hollywood. The recent rainstorms succeeded in stirring dormant roots with memory and desire. Heading downstairs this morning, I noticed our pink magnolia tree is suddenly rife with blossoms. When did that happen?

(2/15/10, Hollywood)

An image stirs to life in my brain as well: an elegiacal Edna St. Vincent Millay in upstate New York communing with another pink magnolia. Is that photo really ninety-seven years old? It could almost be from the latest Anthropologie catalog.

(Photograph by Arnold Genthe, 1913)

In the kitchen, Piero and Luca are preparing to go skiing for the day. The Giramonti men are not at their best in the morning. Before fortifications (espresso and cereal, respectively), they find it near impossible to communicate.

After caffeine and calories, however, they become exuberance personified.

Before I know it, they have packed the car and are driving away.

The house is silent and distraction-free.

Quickly, I whip up my new favorite breakfast. Two months ago, I went on a three-week detox cleanse, courtesy of "Clean", the new detox book by Alejandro Junger. I have felt like a superwoman ever since and have continued with one raw meal a day via his morning smoothies. More than their countless health benefits, I drink them because they're just so crazy delicious.

And now, thus fortified, with a massive day of sewing ahead of me, it's time to reveal to you the details about the big project that's been occupying the better part of my life for the past four months.

From May 1st-29th, I am having my first solo art show at the fabulous Acme Gallery in Beverly Hills. It's called "Stitching Up The Noughties" and of course, I would love you all to come.

I will be showing ten of my larger-than-life postmodern samplers (one of them, "Perky Boobies", I've already posted on). Just as traditional samplers of the past gave voice to their creators' innermost thoughts, my pieces provide a highly personal perspective on how I view life today. (Topics include celebrities, tabloids, the recession and plastic surgery and more.) As of this writing, six are completed, which means I haven't quite entered the home stretch yet. Hence, the boys' skiing trip today so that I could have some uninterrupted hours sewing words onto burlap.

I finished this one last night -- can you guess what it's about from this little sneak peek?

Your blog is such a joy. Thank you for it!I'd love to know the origin of the St. Vincent Millay photograph. My mother was born in 1913 and loves magnolia blossoms...Congrats on your show. I live in L.A., so will be certain to go.

SO excited for you on your first show!!! Amazing just amazing! Wish I could be there, but alas Beverley Hills is a long way from Westmeath! I am with you in spirit though! and have no doubt there will be an inspiring post or two about the event. Spurring you on to finish the rest of your pieces without tooo much backache by May 1st x x

Congrats on your solo show! How I wish I could be there -i'm sure there will be a fabulous opening party! I hope you post many many pictures of your work shown in the gallery for those of us not lucky enough to see it in person!

Hi Lisa - well done on the show that is incredibly exciting. I did a raw food diet in Bali for 5 days (all I could cope with and mostly only survived because I persuaded myself that wine was raw because it's not cooked and therefore could also form a part of the diet) and I felt like I was flying I had so much energy. Scary!.

As for your wonderful sampler I am guessing it muses on the sad replacement of celebrities and their doings as a point of interest higher and more significant than science, art and business.

Lisa,Well done on the show. I’m experiencing cartwheels of enthusiasm in your honor. I’m hoping, fingers crossed, work obligations will carry me westward in time for your grand affair.

As someone who has experimented with a raw diet and juice cleansing before, I’m intrigued by this new book! My boyfriend and I have been complaining of sluggishness as of late and that is most unfavorable to one’s goal of taking over the world. Thanks for the recommendation!

hi Lisa - Lots of places do raw food but this place in Northern Bali is really amazing (also has great gardens, and fabrics, and normal food, and interiors, and eccentric owners). The link where I posted about it is here:

Pamela Terry and Edward: I am a cardamom freak -- love love love that taste. Until now, I thought I had to resort to rich, carbo-heavy desserts or breads in order to satisfy my craving (delicious, yes, but definitely not for every day)...so this smoothie has kind of changed my life! If you like cardamom as much as I do, you may want to up the dose: I put a full teaspoon in. I recently discovered it's in the ayurvedic pantheon of spices that are good for you -- aids in digestion, etc -- so the more, the better!

Congratulations a thousand times! I am so depressed to hear of the dates though, as I will be missing the end of the show by about a week. But I'm sure (I hope!) to see images of the samplers if not the real things.

This is wonderful, wish I could be there to see your work! Your man sound like my bunch...First the food....then communication!!!!Love the pictures, Mamaroneck is just around the corner from us!I shop there for most delicious Italian pastry!

How exciting Lisa !!! I remember the butterflies in my stomach leading up to my first exhibition (silk painting) I am sure it will be a tremendous success.Funny you should post a magnolia soulangeana in blosson, it is a subject I love to paint. The hues of the petals just take my breath away.Congratulations!!

I think you do "A Bloomsbury Life" proud.Best to you and your show.I hope it is injected with humor, wit and a wonderful audience. If only I lived nearby, I would be there daily singing your perky praises.pve

Lisa, congratulations on the show. Since my office is in Beverly Hills, I look forward to enjoying the art up close and personal. Let me know if you will be coming some day and I will be honored to buy the artist a cuppa at Palais de Thes.

I also adore cardamom, so I'm grateful for the smoothie recipe. Long live VitaMix and long live smoothies!

Edna Millay is one of my favorite poets :) I'm assuming you've read the fabulous bio about her, "Savage Beauty"? I lived in Maine for 5 years, enjoying a glimpse into her landscape...it's a beautiful place. As is your blog! A real pleasure, thank you!